Woman Mistook a Deadly Illness for Perimenopause

Laura Dawson, a 44-year-old mother of two, spent months coping with persistent morning bloating and deep exhaustion—symptoms that would eventually lead to a heartbreaking diagnosis and a life cut tragically short.

Living in London, Dawson initially believed her discomfort was simply part of perimenopause. Instead, she was unknowingly living with stage three bowel cancer.

It wasn’t until one night, when she was hit with intense abdominal pain, that she sought urgent medical help at A&E. Doctors performed emergency surgery to relieve a bowel obstruction. While the procedure itself was deemed successful, further testing revealed the devastating truth: cancer was present.

Her husband, Ben, later shared that Dawson then began six months of chemotherapy, and early scans offered a sense of hope.

“We were told in August that the scan was clear and everything looked promising,” Ben explained. “But in September, we learned the cancer had returned and spread. It was absolutely crushing.”

After the cancer resurfaced, Dawson tried alternative chemotherapy options. However, two months ago, she made the difficult decision to stop treatment, as it was taking an increasing toll on her health. Instead, she chose to focus on spending meaningful, intentional time with the people she loved most.

St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham, south-east London, provided care and support that allowed Dawson to remain at home for as long as possible, ensuring her comfort and dignity during her final weeks.

Dawson passed away at St Christopher’s Hospice on Sunday, June 29, with her husband by her side.

“The care Laura received at home from the St Christopher’s carers meant she could spend her final two weeks comfortably and with dignity,” Ben said. “During the nearly three weeks she spent at the hospice, she was treated with incredible compassion. That care made her final days peaceful and meaningful. We will always be thankful that something so positive could come from such an unbearably painful situation.”

Before her death, Dawson reflected openly on her experience.

“Some of the happiest days of my life have been in these last few weeks,” she said. “As a society, we avoid talking about dying.

“When we do that, we strengthen fear around death. People assume dying must always be painful or traumatic, but that isn’t always the case.

“Deep down, we all know our lives will end. Cancer forced me to face that truth. Since then, I’ve lived more fully than ever before—and that has been a gift.”

She died surrounded by love, fully aware of how deeply she was cherished and cared for.